Tennis: Welcome to Miami

[JaneJeffer]

Noticed the last thread is almost full

Well, I have discovered that Ben Hur is on one of the movie channels, and 'King of Kings' is on BBC2 . Perfect Good Friday viewing .

I think 'The Sound of Music' must have been on half a dozen channels over Christmas, so I might give that a miss for once.

In my perusal through the tv guide, I did spot a Christmas film .
'The Mistletoe Inn' is on again, just in case anyone is feeling festive .

In tennis news well done to Rublev- he is quietly racking up the wins, and moving up the rankings. Whatever happens, there will be a new name on the Miami trophy this year.

Been score watching- I thought RBA might have made it to the final, but well done to Sinner- that is a great result.

I'm a massive Rafa fan (obviously) and I am not looking forward to the day he he retires, but the absence of the big 3 in Miami has really opened up the field, and it is interesting to see.

So many really good young players around.
I just hope this stops the whole 'Kyrgios is the next big thing' debate.
Because Rublev has probably won more in the last year, than Dick has done in his career. .

Happy Easter everyone!

I loved Stef's reply to what's the first thing he would do in Miami: buy toothpaste

Happy Easter!

Ash Barty won in Miami- not how she might have wanted, Andreescu retired injured- but a win is a win.

I see Gael Monfils and Elena Svitolina have got engaged- that's nice.

I was also reading that Thiem isn't playing in Monte Carlo- and Djok (though he hasn't confirmed it) might not play Madrid.

Lots of Easter-y /old films on today. 'Easter Parade' 'Barrabas'
'The Vikings'.

I love the Vikings. It's very cheesy.

I'm watching the boat race. It's weird not being on the Thames. The women's was great but I thought Oxford would get disqualified!

I've just watched the men's race. It looked very weird, being held on the backwaters of the Ouse! Glad Cambridge won though - have to support them now as DS was born in Cambridge

Thought Gael and Elina had parted? Clearly not for long

kazza I thought I read not long ago they had split up.

So yes, bit of a change of heart then!

Happy Easter everyone - I missed the boat race!

I’ve just seen that the french Open might be postponed - I think they are due to come out of their current lockdown in mid May - hope they don’t have it in the autumn again!

DH is cooking lamb - can’t wait! I’ve also got lots of chocolate to eat ...

Congratulations to Gael and Elina (I think!)

I don't want RG postponing again. It was so strange in the autumn. And cold. Kept me occupied whilst DD2 was in hospital, I suppose .

It will also be a really packed schedule, later in the year- what with the Olympics and everything. Logistical nightmare if they start postponing things again now(or worse, cancelling them).

I don't mind if the French Open is postponed. I've got bloody jury service that fortnight I was called up for it last summer but I managed to get out of it because I told them I am the sole carer for my dad, who was shielding at the time, and I had barely left my village, so I wasn't going to travel to Winchester every day and mix with God knows how many other people, and risk catching covid! They eventually let me off but the new date was 24 May 2021. And I received my summons last week, so it's definitely happening ....

Oh kazza that is rubbish!
I know it's 'duty' and all that, but I really don't relish the idea of ever getting the call.

I'm so hacked off Raahh
I really don't want to do it, regardless of covid or the French Open.
I just don't want to do it!!!!!

Oh that sounds rubbish kazza - a work colleague was supposed to do jury service a few weeks ago but had to call up every day and didn’t end up having to go in - I think there are still quite a few restrictions in place - I wouldn’t want to do it either

No, I know some people think it seems really exciting- but from those people I know who have done it- it has been a boring, inconvenient- and in some cases, expensive, pain in the bum.

One woman I worked with was in her early 20s- and ended up on a trial that lasted nearly 3 months. We couldn't get a temp in, as she might have returned at any point. She had to travel miles a day to get to the courts- and didn't drive. She enjoyed it- but she had no 'commitments'- no partner or children. It's very different if you are not 'free and single'.

Exactly. Each day, I've got to drive 25 minutes to Winchester, then pay to park somewhere, then walk maybe 10 minutes to the court, so allow an hour in case of traffic or parking problems. And I've still got my dad to worry about, plus the usual housework and family shite

I am on your behalf, kazza. It's the total inconvenience of it.

Thanks Raahh

In other news, I see Hurkacz has won in Miami.

Well, that's a turnup.

Well done to him.

Could this be the year of the changing of the guard ? (Don't we think that every year).

Having said that, Miami is one event that hasn't been as dominated by the big 3, I suppose. In so far as Rafa has never won it (lost 5 finals though!).

I managed to get out of jury service last November but now I'm worried they'll call me up again! I feel your pain kazza!

What's the announcement Rafa is hinting at?

I need to know!

The only thing I can see today, is he has said it is World Health Day or something.

It's not exactly a 'retirement/I'm having a baby(well not him personally)/ I'm skipping the rest of the season to sail the Med in my yacht' type announcement, is it?

Oh I thought it was going to be something more exciting than that!

Fizzy it must be Rafa-ish type exciting .

He's collaborating with a vitamin company or something. Meh and also phew!